Zelensky vows Russia will be ‘held accountable’ for killing 41 in missile strike

Ukrainian president says over 180 wounded when Russia struck military institute in central town of Poltava with two missiles in war’s deadliest single attack so far this year

By Olena Harmash 3 September 2024, 4:57 pm Edit
A screenshot from video posted to social media showing Ukrainians inspecting the damage after a Russian missile strike on the central town of Poltava, September 3, 2024. (Screenshot, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
A screenshot from video posted to social media showing Ukrainians inspecting the damage after a Russian missile strike on the central town of Poltava, September 3, 2024. (Screenshot, used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

KYIV (Reuters) – At least 41 people were killed and more than 180 wounded on Tuesday when Russia struck a military institute in the central town of Poltava with two missiles, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, the war’s deadliest single attack so far this year.

Zelensky said in a video that Russian forces struck with two ballistic missiles, damaging a building of the Military Institute of Communications. He ordered a full and prompt investigation.

“The Russian scum will definitely be held accountable for this strike,” Zelensky said on the Telegram messaging app.

According to Ukraine’s foreign ministry, the type of weapons used left little time for people to find cover once the air alert had sounded.

Photographs posted on social media in Ukraine showed several bodies lying on the ground covered in dust and debris, with the badly damaged side of a large building behind them. Reuters could not immediately verify the images.

“One of the institute’s buildings was partially destroyed, and many people were trapped under the rubble,” the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on Telegram.

“Thanks to the coordinated work of rescuers and medics, 25 people were rescued, 11 of whom were taken from the rubble. The rescuers are currently continuing their work.”

Russia, which has not yet commented on the attack, has intensified its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine two and a half years into the full-scale war.

Last week Ukraine was pummeled with the heaviest bombardment to date, and on Monday ballistic and cruise missiles targeted Kyiv causing loud explosions.

Ukraine also targeted Russia with more than 158 drones over the weekend, damaging an oil refinery near Moscow and a power station.

Zelensky repeated his calls for more Western air defenses and urged allies to allow their long-range weapons to be used for strikes deeper into Russian territory to protect Ukraine.

“We keep telling everyone in the world who has the power to stop this terror: air defense systems and missiles are needed in Ukraine, not in a warehouse somewhere.

“Long-range strikes that can protect us from Russian terror are needed now, not sometime later. Unfortunately, every day of delay means loss of life.”

In Poltava, some 300 kilometers (186 miles) southeast of Kyiv and 120 km (75 miles) to the nearest Russian border, governor Filip Pronin said many residents had donated blood for the injured. Local authorities announced three days of mourning.

The identities of the victims were not immediately disclosed.

Serhiy Beskrestnov, a prominent Ukrainian Telegram blogger followed by many radio, communications and Electronic Warfare specialists in Ukraine’s military, posted a tribute to “my signals operator comrades.”

Fighting has intensified over the past month, with Russian forces advancing in heavy battles in eastern Ukraine, while Kyiv’s troops have mounted their first large-scale cross-border assault into a Russian region, for which Moscow has vowed to retaliate.

Most Popular
read more: